PMT DB
PMT DB
Preseason football finally returned to our screens, and while the starters were mostly allergic to taking snaps, it didn't stop the crazy proclamations from flying. Big Cat and PFT spent the morning sifting through the highlights, with PFT already crowning Drew Allar as the next big thing. Meanwhile, Hank is still driving the Anthony Richardson hype train after a solid showing for the Colts.
The guys also marveled at the historic MLB debut of Joshua Baez, who launched three home runs in his first three at-bats. Max was quick to shut down any comparisons to other sports, arguing that a three-touchdown NFL debut doesn't even come close to what Baez pulled off at Wrigley.
MaxJoshua Baez's MLB debut is more impressive than a 3-touchdown NFL debut
He tried to say that [Joshua Baez's 3-HR debut] is the same thing as an NFL player's debut having three touchdowns. Not even close. Not even remotely close.
Ball Talk with Booger McFarland
Booger McFarland joined the show to give his expert temperature check on both the college and pro games. The conversation quickly turned to the strange NIL and jersey retirement saga surrounding Jayden Daniels at LSU. Booger offered some insight into the miscommunications happening behind the scenes, suggesting the Heisman winner's reputation is taking a hit because of the people representing him.
Booger McFarlandJayden Daniels is being misrepresented by his mother and agent
The perception is that his team, quote unquote, his mother and the agent are kind of spearheading all this... whoever's spearheading this whole thing about the jersey needs to take ownership, take responsibility... he's being misrepresented by his personality. People are calling him selfish. He's not a selfish kid.
When it comes to the 2026 college football season, Booger isn't just making predictions; he's getting married. He officially declared himself "engaged" to Georgia but is ready to walk down the aisle with Notre Dame, citing Marcus Freeman's leadership as a primary reason for his confidence.
Booger McFarlandMarcus Freeman is the best coach in college football
I think Marcus Freeman is the best coach in America... He's the best combination of it all. He's young. He's good looking. He can relate to the kids.
Booger also isn't buying the hype for Dan Lanning's Oregon squad just yet. Despite their talent, he remains skeptical about whether the Ducks have imported the necessary SEC-level physicality to survive the playoff gauntlet.
Booger McFarlandOregon isn't physical enough to win a national championship
The biggest issue with Dan Lanning is this: in the biggest games against teams that have equal talent, they aren't physical enough... he's brought everything from Georgia to Eugene except the level of physicality that is gonna be required.
NFL Projections and Hot Seats
Shifting to the pros, the conversation moved to the AFC, where Booger threw out a massive curveball by naming the Cleveland Browns as his surprise team of the year. He believes Deshaun Watson still has the Houston-era magic buried somewhere, while Big Cat is looking toward a different Texas team for a potential resurgence.
Big CatIf CJ Stroud can just bounce back to average, the Texans will be a dangerous team because of their defense.
I think I'm buying stock in the Texans because I honestly think that defense is so good. It was so nasty down the stretch that if CJ Stroud can just be like a little bit better than average, he doesn't have to be what he was in his first year, he just needs to just not be as bad as he was last year. That could be just a dangerous, dangerous team.
As the season approaches, the stakes are already sky-high for several head coaches. Booger pointed out that rookie head coach Joe Brady is in a "Super Bowl or bust" situation in Buffalo, while PFT and Big Cat laid out the playoff-or-else mandates for their own teams. PFT isn't giving Dan Quinn much of a leash in Washington if the results don't follow the hype.
PFT CommenterIf the Commanders miss the playoffs this year, Dan Quinn will be fired.
If the Commanders don't make the playoffs, Dan Quinn, see you later. That's just how it's gonna be. I like him as a person. I like him as a coach. But the hot seat is very much there for Dan Quinn because if it doesn't happen this year then you know they're gonna try to hire some hot shot offensive mind to work with Jayden.
Who's Back and Mt Rushmore
Who's Back of the week featured Big Cat getting caught in the middle of a bizarre "imposter insider" scandal. A fake Big Cat duped a Bears analyst into reporting that the team was moving to Indiana to become the "Indiana Bears." Once the dust settled, Big Cat clarified that he has zero interest in breaking news, though he does expect the league to start leaning on the McCaskey family soon.
Big CatThe NFL will start pressuring the Bears to finalize their stadium plans
I think the NFL's gonna start putting the screws to the Bears and be like, what are you guys fucking doing? This is crazy.
To wrap things up, the crew drafted the Mount Rushmore of professions that deserve walk-out music. Highlights included Big Cat's vision of doctors entering the room to different songs based on your prognosis and PFT's dream of a Benihana chef spinning spatulas to "Thunderstruck."
At least we now know that if your doctor walks in to the Fox NFL theme, you're probably headed for the IR.
